Coconut Oil as a Natural Teeth Whitening Solution

They say “first impressions last.” The first few minutes that you talk or interact with another person are very crucial. It can make or break you. Hence, it is very important that you look your best all the time. Looking good doesn’t mean you have to wear fashionable clothes or use designer bags. It is enough that you look clean and presentable.

Just imagine, if you were a Human Resources professional, would you hire someone with lousy clothes and dirty teeth? Of course not, right? It is simply because how people look says a lot about their personality. After all, a healthy smile goes a long way. No wonder, various teeth whitening solutions flood the market today.

What is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth Whitening is the process of bleaching ones teeth to bring back its natural white color. Over time, drinking caffeine – rich beverages such as coffee and teas may stain the teeth, making it lose its natural color. It is not nice to look at so people with stained teeth often resort to teeth whitening.

Bleaching vs Laser Teeth Whitening

Professional bleaching is performed by dentists. Prior to the procedure, they prepare a mouth guard for the patient to use. Then, the patient applies bleaching gel and leaves it on for 6 – 8 hours. The entire process usually takes 2 – 4 weeks before you see some results.

Laser Teeth Whitening, on the other hand, is more expensive than regular bleaching. It also involves the use of bleaching gel, but instead of leaving it on for hours, laser is used to activate it. Hence, the results are almost instant.

The choice is yours, if you like professional bleaching or laser treatment. Of course, it will all depend on your budget and how fast you need to see the results. However, if you’re on a really tight budget and you don’t like the risks that come with the treatment, you may consider natural ways on how you can whiten your teeth.

Coconut Oil for Teeth Whitening

One of the strangest things that you may have heard of is the use of coconut oil to whiten your teeth. Who would have thought the same oil you use to fry your chicken on, can also be a good home remedy to bring those pearly whites back to life. Well, it may not give out the same instantaneous results like that of laser teeth whitening. But, who cares? After all, what’s important is that you’re taking safe and all-natural ways to keep your mouth healthy.

The lauric acid found in coconut oil gets rid of the bacteria in your mouth before they even turn into plaque. It is the yellowish build – up you find in between your teeth. Cliché as it may sound, but it is true that, “prevention is better than cure.” Why wait for the bacteria to pile up, when you can take action right away.

How is Oil Pulling Done?

There are certain types of oil which can be used for oil pulling. However, out of the long list, coconut oil is the most preferred type. Its antibacterial properties make it everyone’s favorite when it comes to oil pulling. It gently cleans the teeth making it look whiter.

If you haven’t tried oil pulling yet, simply follow the steps enumerated below so you can be sure you’re doing it correctly:

Upon waking up, just before brushing your teeth, measure 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, you may want to soften it up for a bit, especially if it came straight out of the fridge.

Swish it inside your mouth for 20 minutes. At first, you may not stand keeping it in your mouth for the entire duration. That’s totally fine. You can keep it for as long as you can for the first few days. After you get used to oil pulling, commit to 20 minutes of swishing to achieve the best results.

Spit it out. You may notice that it has turned white and thick.

Brush your teeth as you used to do.

As previously mentioned, it may take weeks or even months before you see its teeth whitening effects. Just be patient. Remember, it’s better you do everything naturally.

Do you know of someone who spends so much on teeth whitening products? Share this post to help them realize that oral health doesn’t need to be expensive.